On Sunday, Cheng Feng booked a simulator pod and continued studying Xiang Yunjian’s match data.
She still had no real leads, so all she could do was replay Xiang Yunjian’s match videos over and over, hoping to spot some kind of breakthrough.
Unfortunately, this guy had played more matches than the number of people Cheng Feng had crushed in the pits. Even after working overtime and grinding nonstop, Cheng Feng still came up empty.
When Mr. Luo found out, he forcibly dragged her out.
“One day,” Mr. Luo said. “You need balance in studying – work and rest. Put the homework aside. I’m taking you out to clear your head.”
Privately, Cheng Feng assumed that if Mr. Luo was calling her out at such a critical moment, he must have some secret, insider wisdom to pass on.
But when the car stopped in front of a museum, Cheng Feng stood bleakly among the tourists and slowly scanned the words written overhead:
Unconventional Mecha Wreckage Museum.
A sliver of suspicion immediately rose in her mind –
Was Mr. Luo secretly sent by Xiang Yunjian’s side?
Had that guy’s influence already spread into the command department too?
Mr. Luo calmly pulled two tickets from inside his suit jacket and handed one to Cheng Feng, telling her that at the counter next to the ticket checkpoint, she could redeem a free ice cream with the voucher.
Cheng Feng skipped off happily. Through the glass display case, she stared at the lifelike custom ice creams inside, each modeled after a different mech. She had the service robot hand her one shaped like a manual-control mech, then ran back toward Mr. Luo holding it up.
What a great guy.
Mr. Luo was truly a kind and benevolent elder!
Mr. Luo walked forward at an unhurried pace. When he saw her coming over, he raised a hand and pointed ahead, signaling for her to look.
Warm air leaked through the gaps of the opening doors. Before Cheng Feng had even stepped inside, she could already smell something like gunpowder in the air.
The moment she entered, Cheng Feng instinctively tilted her head up and glanced toward the ceiling.
The indoor exhibition hall was five or six meters tall, brightly lit but not harsh on the eyes. Every section, roughly twenty square meters in size, used different lighting setups together with fully immersive projection equipment to create strikingly different atmospheres.
Closest to the entrance was a desert-at-dusk exhibit.
Every display in this venue was a virtual projection. The mechs had been scaled down proportionally to around two meters tall and placed within their respective scenes.
Staring at the mech – though more than half of it had clearly already been destroyed -Cheng Feng could still feel its sheer size and overwhelming presence. Under the shifting lights above, even the drifting yellow sand looked vividly real, as if she were truly standing in that barren stretch of desert wasteland.
Mr. Luo moved to a corner, slightly raised his head, and quietly studied the mech.
Then he asked, “Do you know how this mech was destroyed?”
Cheng Feng circled around the mech, carefully examining the damaged sections.
This red-and-white mech had apparently taken a close-range hit from a heavy-firepower weapon before it was destroyed. One arm had been blown off, the metal around its head looked nearly melted, and around the cockpit were black scorch marks left by intense heat.
Judging by the extent of the damage, the artillery strike must have come down from above.
Cheng Feng gave her answer. Mr. Luo shifted his gaze toward her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He shook his head.
“Wrong.”
Suspicious, Cheng Feng studied it again. After staring for a while, she finally noticed a detail she had missed.
There was a large area of denting along the mech’s side. However, the metal plating around the cockpit had been reinforced with multiple layers. Based on the visible burn marks, the shell that struck it wasn’t powerful enough to cause that degree of deformation, and the direction of impact didn’t quite match either.
So although that blast looked devastating, it wasn’t actually the fatal blow.
Unfortunately, the projected mech had been partially reconstructed with advanced restoration techniques and displayed upright on the platform. Key structural areas had also been deliberately blurred, so Cheng Feng couldn’t make out much more.
She scratched her ear and tossed out a random guess.
“Crushed?”
Mr. Luo looked slightly surprised, clearly not expecting her to make such a bold leap. Then he nodded. “It was killed by an airdropped supply crate.”
Cheng Feng herself was startled by the answer, and instantly felt the mech’s aura dim considerably.
Weren’t mech pilots in the military supposed to be elite soldiers with top-tier abilities across the board? How could someone make such a foolish mistake?
Mr. Luo added, “To be precise, the signal for the transport supplies was intercepted by the enemy, forcing the cargo aircraft to perform an emergency airdrop. While two mechs were fighting over the emergency supplies, they damaged the supply crate’s landing system. They were restraining each other, and in the chaos, both got smashed by it.”
Still stunned, Cheng Feng raised a hand to touch the mech, only to grab empty air – as expected.
Mr. Luo turned first and walked toward another exhibit. Looking back at Cheng Feng following behind him, he asked, “Then do you know how this mech was destroyed?”
This mech didn’t seem to have any major issues at first glance. Its outer shell only had some dents and bumps, and aside from that, it was just dirty – covered in yellowish dirt like some unearthed relic.
Cheng Feng shook her head.
Mr. Luo clearly knew the origins and history of these mechs like the back of his hand. Familiar with every detail, he explained, “The marks on this mech came from its pilot trying to save someone. He risked standing on a slope, but the hillside collapsed, and the mech ended up buried in the war zone for three days.”
Cheng Feng blinked blankly. “Ah…”
“But the pilot survived and was dug out later,” Mr. Luo said with a smile. “Even though he made it out, the mech had suffered electromagnetic interference from enemy forces, and most of its internal circuitry was burned out. Repairs weren’t worth it. Combined with aging components, they scrapped it.”
At that point, Cheng Feng finally understood what Unconventional Mecha Wreckage meant.
Realization dawned on her.
“Wait… don’t tell me every mech here was destroyed because of some kind of accident?”
“That’s right.” Mr. Luo strode toward the center of the exhibition hall and stopped beneath the brightest lights. The overhead glow reflected off his lenses in silver streaks, masking his slightly clouded eyes.
He removed his glasses and, out of habit, took out a cloth to wipe them. The corners of his mouth lifted in a gentle smile, but there was a trace of sternness in his tone as he said:
“In real combat, there are countless unpredictable variables. The one thing you’ll never lack is the possibility of a reversal. You should be able to see the traces of battle left on those mech wrecks – they all prove one truth: the one left standing at the end isn’t necessarily the strongest.
“For us data analysts, every element in the environment can become a weapon. Predicting those variables one step ahead of your opponent, using superior control of information to seize command of the battlefield – that is our other cannon, and also the most difficult blade to guard against. Not everyone can wield a weapon like that.”
He put his glasses back on and pointed toward the endless line of virtual mechs stretching into the distance.
“These warriors, who truly walked the line between life and death, can teach us far more than you think. Even if all that remains is a wreck, it still carries years of blood-soaked experience and hard-earned lessons. Their weaknesses are Xiang Yunjian’s weaknesses. As for how much insight you can gain from them – that depends on you.”
Cheng Feng fell into thought.
Mr. Luo gave a quiet chuckle and beckoned to her. “Come on. We don’t have much time – we need to head back before dark.”
Mr. Luo spent most of the exhibition area walking Cheng Feng around. Around five o’clock, they left the museum, and he gave her the other ticket as well, telling her to go next door to exchange it for ice cream.
After sending Cheng Feng to the gate, Mr. Luo rolled down the car window and leaned slightly out, giving her one final remark. “Clear your mind. Don’t forget what our professional standards are as data analysts.”
Absolute objectivity. Absolute calm. Careful long-term planning, and a decisive killing blow.
Cheng Feng curled two fingers and gave him an “OK” gesture.
The two exchanged a knowing smile, then turned and went their separate ways.
…
Cheng Feng and Xiang Yunjian were both now seeded players at UFU. Although their match wasn’t a finals showdown, it was undoubtedly the biggest highlight of the season.
Because of this, the university had opened its spectator system in advance. The gymnasium, activity center, and main sports field would all stream real-time full-immersion projections on large screens. Students on campus could choose seats ten minutes in advance, after which the remaining seats would be opened to the public.
Zhong Yijie had asked a technical worker from the neighboring department to sponsor their reaction speed, and managed to grab one of the best viewing spots in the gymnasium at the first possible moment.
On the day of the match, just past ten in the morning, Zhong Yijie arrived half an hour early, swiping his card into the venue while holding a drink.
By then, about one-third of the seats were already filled. Most of them were students from unrelated majors who had come just to watch the excitement.
One had to admit that Zhong Yijie’s dorm wasn’t necessarily the best in terms of academic strength, but it was definitely the best-looking.
After sitting down, he texted his roommates to hurry up and take their seats. Then he looked up and realized that people around him were already turning their attention toward him.
Zhong Yijie tugged at his collar, wearing a profound and unreadable expression as he endured the stares from those around him.
Suddenly, a pair of hands landed on his shoulders, and immediately after, a familiar figure in green military uniform vaulted from the back row and sat down right next to him.
Zhong Yijie slowly turned his head – and saw the physical training instructor who had trained him for three years. His soul involuntarily trembled.
“Fancy meeting you here,” the instructor said, his hand still on Zhong Yijie’s shoulder, flashing a devilishly kind smile. He introduced him to his companion. “My student. From Dorm 5. Lost to Cheng Feng during the early mechanical control system overhaul phase. Didn’t even make it to the finals this time – got eliminated in the previous round. So tell me, what use is he?”
Zhong Yijie’s face twitched slightly, but he still swallowed the humiliation.
A mentor.
This was also a mentor.
He must respect his teachers.
Behind them, separated by a row of seats, two civilians who had bought tickets were whispering about the match.
Zhong Yijie had sharp hearing and caught most of it – three out of every five sentences were sighs.
“Cheng Feng and Xiang Yunjian fought so early… it’s really a pity. No matter how cunning UFU is, it can’t outlast San Yao’s random matchmaking.”
“Who’s the university president again? Maybe we should ask someone from the neighboring military academy how to slip San Yao some money.”
The instructor’s booming voice cut in as always, blunt and unfiltered. “Not necessarily. I think this is a good thing.”
The two people behind immediately leaned forward, eager to ask, “Boss, care to explain?”
“There’s nothing much to explain. Individual combat assessments only care about first place – if you’re not MVP, you don’t shine. So whether they fight early or late doesn’t really matter. What matters is the hype.”
The instructor spoke leisurely, as if everything was obvious.
“The most talked-about match this season is Cheng Feng versus Xiang Yunjian. Whoever they fight will gain attention from them.”
Someone behind raised their voice, “But aren’t they from the same university? Doesn’t that mean they’re draining each other’s spotlight?”
The instructor shook a finger. “They’re both from UFU. As long as this match is spectacular enough, the post-league spotlight will still land on UFU.”
He added casually that the university president had already coordinated with the San Yao system administrators and planted triple the usual soft advertising in the scenario.
One match equals three.
The two spectators took a deep breath.
As expected of UFU’s instructor… that level of insight is truly incisive!
Zhong Yijie silently complained in his mind that UFU’s president’s obsession with advertising had basically become the university’s signature trait.
And yet even so, Cheng Feng still couldn’t remember their school emblem.
The instructor leaned back on the bench, casually chatting with the man beside him. “I’ve watched all of Cheng Feng’s highlight clips. Only made it halfway through the prelim recordings. That kid’s reaction speed? Incredible.”
Zhong Yijie’s expression froze, and he could no longer stay calm.
Three and a half years. Three and a half years!
Their teacher-student relationship had lasted three and a half years, and the last time he asked the instructor to help review a finals replay, the man had been extremely reluctant – said watching it made him angry, like he already knew how it would go.
He did know how it would go – but did you?!
Just then, the lights in the venue dimmed in several sections, and the projection system activated. The open space ahead displayed the staging area of San Yao.
“Here we go,” the instructor said immediately, sitting up straight.
Zhong Yijie’s two roommates also jogged back to their seats. Jiang Linxia and a few others arrived with them.
Everyone was somewhat familiar with each other and exchanged silent greetings.
In the screen, Cheng Feng was selecting the equipment for the match, and the livestream moderator enlarged each of her choices one by one for the audience.
Her setup this time was clearly unusual – so unconventional that it left people completely puzzled. As the full configuration was displayed, the surrounding murmurs gradually swelled into an uproar.
Five minutes later, Cheng Feng had replaced nearly 80% of the default loadout. Since the start of the league, there had never been such an extreme level of modification.
By normal standards, the default setup was the most balanced configuration calculated by San Yao. Even changing a single component required careful consideration – who would completely overhaul it like Cheng Feng?
Zhong Yijie opened his mouth, then didn’t dare turn left. Instead, he leaned toward his roommate on the right and whispered, “This setup is obviously highly incompatible. What is she doing?”
Even someone who didn’t understand manual mech operation could see it clearly: massively increasing propulsion systems while also stacking long-range high-damage weapons was basically making the controls harder for herself. A beginner couldn’t even come up with such a combination using their feet.
The instructor, sitting nearby, praised her in a completely unreasonable tone. “Meticulous, serious – and very creative!”
The man next to him immediately agreed, “Yeah! And it can even confuse novice opponents!”
Zhong Yijie: “…”
He was numb.
Three and a half years.
He, Zhong Yijie, the top mech operator of Dorm 5 in his year at UFU’s advanced cohort – he had carried guns for you, been injured for you, and brought glory for you.
Had you ever praised me like that?!
